Spanish Passion to Portuguese Charm - 8 Days

Welcome to Madrid. On arrival at the airport, we transfer you to your hotel. You’ll have free time until the tour begins – please check the information board at hotel reception for details of the welcome meeting with your guide and fellow travellers.

In the evening, we provide a transfer to Plaza Mayor and La Latina – two of Madrid’s best-known areas for nightlife and tapas. You can choose where to dine, with plenty of options from Spanish tapas to Indian, Chinese or Middle Eastern cuisine. Please note: This tour may have travellers joining or departing at various points along the route, meaning group composition can change during the tour. Please also be aware that depending on group composition, guiding may be in additional languages as well as English.

We begin with a comprehensive tour of central Madrid – taking in the elegant Paseo del Prado, the Cibeles and Neptuno fountains, the Puerta de Alcalá, Plaza de Colón and Plaza Mayor. We then continue to Retiro Park to see the lake and the Palacio de Cristal.

Admission is included to the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium – home of Real Madrid. The rest of the afternoon is at your leisure to explore the city at your own pace. In the evening, we provide a return transfer to the hotel.

We leave Madrid early, travelling south through La Mancha. Our first stop is Puerto Lápice, a Manchego village associated with Don Quixote. We then continue into Andalusia via Despeñaperros, arriving in Granada where lunch is included. In the afternoon, if you have prebooked the Alhambra option, you will tour the Alhambra and the Generalife with a local guide – both from the Arab period. Important: visitor numbers are strictly limited by law and tickets are issued when your tour reservation is confirmed. Please ensure you provide your full name and passport or ID number at the time of booking; ticket costs are not refundable if you cancel. In the rare event the Alhambra visit cannot be operated, we will instead visit the Royal Alcázar of Seville, which offers similar historical and architectural significance.

We depart Granada and enjoy the changing landscapes as we leave the Sierra Nevada behind, then follow the Mediterranean along the Tropical Coast, where a mild microclimate supports guavas, mangoes and avocados – and formerly sugar cane. We stop in Nerja to admire its dramatic sea cliffs before continuing to Málaga, capital of the Costa del Sol. You’ll have time for lunch and a stroll through the historic centre. In the afternoon we head inland into the Andalusian sierras to reach Ronda, known for the deep gorge that divides the town. We then continue to Seville, arriving in the late afternoon – dinner is included at the hotel.

This morning we explore Seville on a guided city tour, taking in the cathedral with its famous Giralda, the banks of the Guadalquivir, and the characterful quarters of Santa Cruz and Triana. After the tour, we relax on an included boat cruise along the Guadalquivir, offering panoramic views of the city from the water. In the evening, you can choose to attend a popular flamenco tablao.

We leave Seville and travel through rolling hills and wide pasturelands towards Extremadura. In Mérida, we include admission to the Archaeological Ensemble – home to the remarkably preserved Roman theatre and amphitheatre – a World Heritage Site. You’ll have time for lunch and a stroll through the lively pedestrian historic centre. We then continue into Portugal, stopping in Évora – also a World Heritage Site – known for its whitewashed streets, Renaissance palaces and cathedral. We arrive in Lisbon in the evening.

In the morning, we explore Lisbon on a guided sightseeing tour, taking in the Portuguese capital of seven hills, its narrow lanes, traditional azulejo tiles and bright Atlantic light. We continue to Belém – the historic departure point for the great Portuguese navigators of the 15th century. In the afternoon, you have free time to stroll the city – you might head to Bairro Alto and its viewpoint – or you can join an optional excursion to Sintra, Cascais and Estoril. In the evening, we provide a return transfer to the hotel from lively Restauradores Square, known for its bars and cafés.

After breakfast, our tour concludes in Lisbon. There are no further included activities today, so you’re free to make your own onward arrangements. We hope you leave with lasting memories of your time in Spain and Portugal.